Music,  Television

Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush (1985)

July 6, 2014 /
running up that hill with road

Running Up That Hill

The first time I remember seeing and hearing the English singer-songwriter Kate Bush was on Saturday Night Live in 1978. 

She was a bit older than me but still a teenager and she sang very well and I thought she was talented in a quirky way. 

I’d never seen anything quite like it before and I didn’t know what to make of her. However, I was very impressed with her talent. After all, I still remember it all these years later. 

I’ve never seen that broadcast again.

I bought a couple of her albums but then she seemed to fade away . . .

Actually, she became quite a big star in England but rarely appeared in the United States, apparently because of a fear of flying. I must admit that I started to forget about her.

This was the song that first made her famous in England. She is playing a ghost in “Wuthering Heights.”  

Be prepared, it is rather unusual:

Now you see why I didn’t know quite what to make of her when I first saw her? She was different.

Kate Bush Is A True Original

I became aware of her again because of her 1985 song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” and the accompanying Very Strange Video (below). 

I became quite obsessed with this song. It was Kate at her eccentric best, complete with the very 1980s synthesizers.

Kate Bush explains the song: Behind The Song: Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill”

I was fascinated by her again. It is a haunting song, and the lyrics have been interpreted in many different ways. 

Apparently, she becomes deeply involved in many stages of her music: writing, performing, choreography, producing, set design, etc. 

She has really exercised great control over her career. She’s nobody’s puppet.

You can see more videos by Kate Bush on her official YouTube Channel: 

Kate Bush Music 

2022 Updates  

It seems I was way ahead of the curve!  “Running Up That Hill” has suddenly become famous in America only 37 years later! It’s the #1 streamed song on the planet!

Kate is very surprised and happy with this success!

You may also want to read my post about Swedish House Mafia’s “Save The World” and I Love The Singer Pink.

2023 Update: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!

Kate Bush has just been inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!

According to the Hall website:

Her radical experimentation with lush soundscapes, literary themes, sampling, and theatricality have inspired everyone from Johnny Rotten to Björk to Big Boi.

Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!

You May Also Like

football Sopranos Super Bowl Commercial

The Sopranos’ Opening Credits and Super Bowl Commercial 2022

February 9, 2024
Rosie The Riveter Pink

I love the singer PINK

March 29, 2011
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital

Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Is About To Be Torn Down 2015 | Morris Plains, New Jersey

March 16, 2015

16 Comments